Knotting His Rejected Breeder

SONIA’S POV

Since waking up in the morning and hearing that knock on the door, I had not taken a seat yet. Until now. My legs felt heavy as I finally lowered myself into the wooden chair in the small side room the pack doctor had set aside for me.

The chair creaked softly under my weight, the worn cushion offering a small measure of comfort after hours on my feet. I sighed deeply, the sound escaping my lips like I had been holding it in all day.

I placed my hand on my neck and began to crack it, releasing as much tension as I could. The sharp pops echoed in the quiet space, easing some of the stiffness that had built up from running between patients. I cracked my fingers next, then raised my arms high as I stretched.

My muscles pulled tight, then relaxed, but the deep ache remained. My stomach rumbled loudly the more I stretched. I was thirsty, hungry, and extremely fatigued. The exhaustion sat heavy in my bones, making every small movement feel like a task.

I decided to close my eyes a little, because it didn’t seem like I would be getting any food or water anytime soon. The room was dimly lit by a single lantern, its warm glow flickering gently against the walls. Just as my eyelids grew heavy, a delicious aroma drifted into my nose—rich, savory, and warm. My eyes shot open.

The pack doctor was standing in front of me, a small table balanced on one hand and a covered plate on the other. Steam rose gently from the plate, carrying the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread. He set it before me with care and placed the food down. The aroma grew stronger, making my mouth water instantly.

"Excuse me," he said, and stepped out for a moment. His footsteps faded down the hallway.

When he returned, there was a bottle of water in his hand, cool droplets sliding down its side. "This is from a different pack. The alpha ordered it to be brought to the hospital earlier," he said, handing it to me. The glass felt refreshingly cold against my palm.

There were tears in my eyes as I sat up straighter. I genuinely thought that was it for the night. I wouldn’t have anything to eat. The kindness hit me harder than I expected after such a long, draining day. "Thank you," I said in a shaky voice, my throat tight with emotion.

He laughed softly, the sound warm and genuine, as he dragged a chair beside me and took his seat. The wooden legs scraped lightly against the floor. "No, thank you. You have no idea how big of a help you were to me today. Do you know how many lives would have been lost if it wasn’t for your presence? At least ten. Do you know how many lives we actually lost? Zero. You’re special, Sonia."

I touched my chest as warmth crept through it. Even my wolf couldn’t help but let out a soft, contented coo inside me. The words wrapped around me like a gentle embrace after hours of chaos.

"Thank you so much for your kindness. But before I eat, you have to tell me your name. Everyone calls you pack doctor. Don’t you miss being called your name?" I finally got to ask him. It had been eating at me for the longest time. I didn’t like to be referred to only by my skills. No matter how hard bearing my name was, I liked being called Sonia.

He laughed again. His laughter was really beautiful. It turned his grey hair a calmer shade under the lantern light and softened the tired lines around his eyes. It was simply the most fascinating thing. "Carl," he replied.

"Carl? I like that." I bobbed my head, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"Of course you do. You like everything. I’ve never seen a more positive person than you. How do you manage to do it?"

"I don’t know. I just don’t think there’s any point being sad, right? I mean it’s an emotion you can feel in the moment. You can even cry it out, but going forward, you have to put on a smile. It calms your heart." The words felt true as I said them, even if my own heart still carried its own quiet burdens.

"I like that," he nodded slowly. "Now eat. If you had listened to me earlier, you would have eaten and taken a rest already."

"Yeah, I really don’t listen." I laughed this time, as I dug into the food. The roasted chicken was tender and juicy, the bread soft and warm, and the stew rich with spices that danced on my tongue. I ate with quiet focus, savoring every bite after the long, empty day.

"It’s good right?" He asked after I took a spoonful.

"Delicious!" I chewed greedily, the flavors bringing life back into my tired body.

"It’s directly from the alpha’s kitchen. I made sure they brought double portions for you, since you didn’t eat all day."

"Really? Thank you so much Carl." Gratitude swelled in my chest again.

"Eat up." He urged me gently.

I happily obliged. I ate every last piece of chicken mixed with whatever that was. I couldn’t care less. It tasted delicious! The warmth spread through me, easing the hollow ache in my stomach. When I was done, I drank from the bottle Carl had given me. The cool water soothed my throat and washed everything down perfectly.

In the middle of drinking, I paused, a thought crossing my mind. I couldn’t get the bottle long enough to say what was on my mind. "Hey, slow down. Are you okay?" He asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

"The water. The sample? I didn’t get to access it," I said, panic flashing through my eyes. The realization hit me hard after the brief moment of peace.

He must have noticed it, as he reached for my hands. His grip was steady and reassuring. "You just ate. You need to settle down, or else, you’ll have indigestion."

"But the water!" I fussed, worry creeping back in.

"Don’t worry about it. I already told the alpha it would take quite a while for the results of the test to be ready. Just focus on yourself."

I took a deep breath and began to relax. Contrary to what I had thought, I liked working here. I knew if I messed up once, Ramon would find a way to punish me. That way could be chasing me out of the clinic. I was in my element here. It would suck if I had to leave.

"You’re scared of him," he said, looking at me as if he could see the fear in my eyes.

"Aren’t you? Who wouldn’t be scared of him?" I laughed nervously, the sound a little shaky.

"But he’s your mate. That’s what I hear."

"Yeah, that doesn’t count. He’s still a scary man." The words slipped out honestly, carrying the weight of everything between us.

"He’s very strict when it comes to getting things done. Other than that, I think he’s very jovial."

I couldn’t help the cackle I let out. "Alpha Ramon? Jovial?"

"Is it that hard to believe?" He asked, amazement in his eyes.

"Absolutely! I mean, I’ve seen a glimpse of his kindness, but that’s as far as it goes." My voice softened at the memory of last night, but the fear still lingered.

"Don’t say that. I think you’ll see him for who he really is someday. And it’s not half as bad as you think."

Yeah, I had seen enough. I knew there was good in him. I just didn’t think I would fully enjoy his goodness. Sure he touched me in a way no one had, or could, and gave me pleasures that were too complicated for my naive mind, but he also took a lot of things from me. Sometimes, he even made me feel inadequate. The push and pull left me exhausted in more ways than one.

"I hope the future holds something good," I finally said, my voice quiet.

"And I—"

One of the patients screamed, and I jumped up. The sharp sound cut through the calm like a knife.

"I’ll handle it," I said to Carl, before he could even think to stop me. My legs moved before my mind fully caught up, carrying me toward the sound of pain.